NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc

3 & 4-bk mrks,off top,punishing wd

NICKEL AND DIME - paced roughly early in the run home.

Prkd,1x1 1250,flat tn,no pick-up

NICKEL AND DIME - crowded by an outside runner after 150m. Weakened leaving the final bend.

4th,prkd,ld,trld 1100,thru,ld,slick

3-4bk inr,held up tn,good,tight

NICKEL AND DIME - held up throughout the run home.

Eased,wd rear 600,wdr top,no pickup

NICKEL AND DIME - raced wide from the 700m. Weakened in the run home.

7th otr,wd 1200,ld 1000,hdd top,fdd

Trainer M House was warned for both NICKEL AND DIME and SHEZABETTORGIRL being late on to the track.

Won early ld duel,dictated,clung on

3bk otr,up,prkd 800,askd tn,wiltd

SPIRIT DOWNUNDER - over-raced when racing in the parked position through the early and middle stages. Held up early in the run home. Stewards questioned driver C Ferguson regarding the tactics he adopted near the 900m when electing to shift down to the marker line as opposed to remaining in the one one position. Mr Ferguson explained that he felt that his best option was to shift inwards and follow ROCKINGOOD and DEADLINE who were both favoured runners rather than remain in the one out line following NICKEL AND DIME which had improved quickly to race in the parked position through the middle stages as this would have resulted in him having to improve wide on the final bend. After considering the matter, Stewards were satisfied that Mr Ferguson's tactics were not unreasonable in the circumstances and took the matter no further.

Wd,up prkd thru'out,fght on stoutly

NICKEL AND DIME - raced wide early. Hung inwards through the middle stages.

4-5bk inr,off rear tn,imprvd inr

NICKEL AND DIME - held up by a weakening runner final bend.

Slw10th otr,wd,prkd 1400,hung,game

JOHN STEWART - hung inwards throughout the run home.

Sped to ld,no peace,hdd 250,kept on

JOHN STEWART - shifted into the passing lane in the run home. Driver A Cameron was issued a warning for failing to maintain a straight course in the run home and leave the passing lane clear for trailing runners. Miss Cameron who declined assistance from a senior driver, admitted a breach of Rule 869(2) and the Whip and Rein Regulations in that she used her whip with more than a wrist flicking motion in the run home. After viewing the replays and hearing submissions on penalty, the Adjudicative Committee suspended Miss Cameron's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing on 15 February up to and including 25 February 2026 (3 days).

Thru,led 1750,kickd hard,nabbed

JOHN STEWART - lay inwards and struck a track marker near the 1500m and again rounding the final bend.

Fired to ld dictated,kicked,stylish

JOHN STEWART - lay inwards early in the run home having to be corrected by driver B Orange.

11th otr,wd 1300,prkd,cvr,off,tough

3bk inr,6bk 800,chkd 600,lost drivr

POISON IVY - over-raced when being restrained to obtain cover for a distance passing the 1400m. Continued to over-race placing driver O Thornley in some difficulty and as a result made contact with the back of the sulky of LARISSA BEAUDIENE and broke before falling near the 600m dislodging driver O Thornley checking SHADOW CREEK, HERE COMES MARTY, DOVER TERRACE and JOHN STEWART with driver M Williamson being dislodged from the sulky of JOHN STEWART. POISON IVY escaped driverless before being recaptured and was transported from the track in the Horse Ambulance. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a head injury with the mare being treated before being referred to the Canterbury Equine Clinic for further assessment. Stood down pending a veterinary clearance prior to completing one trial to the satisfaction of Stewards before resuming. Driver O Thornley was examined by St John personnel and cleared of injury to fulfill her remaining driving engagement.

5th otr,1x1 1600,off,bold,flat tyre

JOHN STEWART - driver R May reported he sustained a punctured sulky tyre near the 200m.

9th pegs,6-bk 800,never a live hope

1x1,prkd 1500,cvr 1000,off,stuck on

JOHN STEWART - lay inwards throughout the run home. Driver R May was issued a warning for using his whip in a continuous manner in the run home.

Soon 3bk inr,held up tn,cheeky inr

10th inr,4-bk,off,closed boldly wd

6th,1x1,up tn,dashd,got there

PLAYING WITH STARS - awkwardly placed close to the sulky of PATIRO near the 1400m after driver S Murtha was placed at a disadvantage when being contacted by the trailing TAUMUTU LAD.

Eased,4 & 5-bk mrks,off,stout mid

PATIRO - broke in the score up and was out of position at the start. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Soon prkd,no cvr,battling from 500

PATIRO - weakened final bend.

Gate spd,ld 1500,kickd hard,hdd 100

Eased,7bk otr,last inr tn,big wdst

PATIRO - raced wide early.

Wd,rolled to ld 1650,dictated,slick

Ld out,3-bk 700,off 500,ld tn,tough

Sped to ld,trld 950,thru,too strong

Straight to ld,dictated,gathered in

Gt spd,led,trail,3bk,hld up,nice lt

MIGHTY FLYING LOU - held up early in the run home. Hampered when an inside runner hung outwards late in the run home having to be steadied.

4-bk mrks,off,held up,bold late inr

MIGHTY FLYING LOU - held up early in the run home. Hung inwards inside the final 200m causing driver G O'Reilly difficulty.

Trld-3bk inr,waitd,brief bid up inr

MIGHTY FLYING LOU - hung inwards throughout the run home.

Gate spd,ld,keen,trld,flat tn,fdd

MIGHTY FLYING LOU - hung inwards and struck track markers rounding the final bend placing driver R May in difficulty. Again hung inwards early in the run home, racing inside several markers in the passing lane with trailing runners being hampered. When questioned Mr May stated the gelding had locked on one rein, preventing him from steering despite his efforts when using the whip. Nothwithstanding this Mr May was reminded of his obligations in similar circumstances. A warning was placed on the gelding's racing record.

1x1-3bk otr,1x1,inr tn,weavd well

MIGHTY FLYING LOU - hung inwards rounding the final bend and shifted inwards. Again hung inwards early in the run home.

Gate spd,1x1,3bk otr,up,honest wd

BETTOR BE SHARP - over-raced middle stages.

3rd,3bk inr,off 300,solid in mid

1x1,prkd,ld 1300,fght hard,cght 100

Wd,7-6bk otr,wd rear tn,pluggd

BETTOR BE SHARP - raced wide early.

3rd inr,3-bk 2400,off,fght mid,blkd

4bk otr,5bk 800,wd rear tn,cheeky

BETTOR BE SHARP - over-raced middle stages.

Led,trld,ld,trld 1800,fght hard inr

BETTOR BE SHARP - broke briefly at the start losing ground.

Wd,made ld,trld 1400,off,too sharp

BETTOR BE SHARP - raced wide early.

3bk otr,1x1 600,tight,steady mid

3-4bk otr,3wd rear,no extra mid

BETTOR BE SHARP - over-raced middle stages.

4bk inr,off rear 600,got going wdst

Soon prkd,askd 350,felt pinch str

3-4bk inr,buried tn,tried hard inr

COMMANDER JOE - over-raced middle stages. Held up final bend.

Eased,5bk inr,off rear tn,imprvd wd

Prkd,no cvr,3bk inr 500,battld inr

COMMANDER JOE - over-raced middle stages.

Brk,10th inr,7-bk,failed to fire up

COMMANDER JOE - broke at the start losing ground. Hampered by a breaking runner rounding the final bend.

9th inr,5-bk,off,held up,ran on wd

Thru,trld 1500,waitd,did best inr

3wd,prkd 1250-tn,fght gamely str

COMMANDER JOE - raced wide early.

3wd,prkd,1x1 1200,up tn,smartest

COMMANDER JOE - raced wide early.

8th,4bk otr,5bk inr,4bk otr,pluggd

Found 1x1,off tn,solid chase mid

1x1,prkd 1800-tn,kept giving mid

Trld,3bk inr 1500,tight,good,disq

SONG SUNG BLUE - held up early in the run home and raced inside and contacted track markers. Stewards lodged a protest against 4th placing being awarded under Rule 869(7B) alleging the gelding had gained an advantage by racing inside a track marker early in the run home. After viewing the replays and hearing evidence from Stewards and junior driver G Thornley (assisted by C Thornley), the Adjudicative Committee upheld the protest and SONG SUNG BLUE was disqualified. Miss Thornley admitted an associated charge in that she allowed her sulky wheel to move inside the marker line which gained an advantage. After considering submissions on penalty the Adjudicative Committee suspended Miss Thornley's driver's licence from the conclusion of racing on 1 February up to and including 8 February 2026 (3 days).

Bk otr,angld wide trn,brk late

SONG SUNG BLUE - attempted to jump a shadow on the track and broke late in the run home losing its chance. Driver G Thornley confirmed the gelding had tried to jump a shadow.

Trail,3-4pegs,off,ran on fairly mid

Trld-3bk inr,4bk 1000,held up,tidy

SONG SUNG BLUE - hampered by a weakening runner final bend.

Eased,6bk otr,rear inr tn,imprvd

9th,4bk otr,loomd tn,unleashd,just

WARRIOR CHIEF - when questioned regarding the improved performance trainer J Gameson advised that the gelding was unsuited to racing parked at its previous start and had appreciated the fast tempo of tonight's race over its preferred distance.

Thru,prkd 1650,1x1 700,felt pinch

Blew the start,out of commission

WARRIOR CHIEF - broke at the start losing all chance. A warning was placed on the barrier record of the gelding.

Brk,10th,5bk inr,solid inr,peakd

The start was delayed due to WILD WILLOW requiring farrier attention and WARRIOR CHIEF requiring a change of sulky.

Chkd,wd cvr rear 1000,wdr,no punch

WARRIOR CHIEF - out of position at the start. Driver S Hill was issued a $100 Minor Infringement Notice. Checked racing into the first bend losing ground. Raced wide from the 1000m.

Cght 3wd,prkd 800,1x1,fading 500

WARRIOR CHIEF - raced wide early and middle stages. Hung inwards for a distance passing the 1100m. Weakened final bend hampering a trailing runner. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a slow recovery. Stewards will follow up with connections in the coming days.

Soon 3bk otr,angld wdr tn,useful

3wd,up,prkd 1200,tiring by 400

TAKETHEPLUNGE - raced wide until reaching the parked position near the 1250m. Weakened final bend. When questioned regarding the performance connections advised the gelding had been unsuited to racing parked on a strong tempo with the effort taking its toll.

Up,prkd,ld 1800,kickd tn,held best

TAKETHEPLUNGE - raced wide early.

Thru,3bk otr,4bk 700,off,useful

3bk otr,up,prkd 1150,askd,fght,fdd

5bk otr,up,prkd 800,ld tn,fght,cght

13th otr,wd cvr 600,failed to spark

TAKETHEPLUNGE - driver D Dolan reported the gelding had failed to handle the grass track today.

Up,prkd,ld 1350,kickd,held best

TAKETHEPLUNGE - raced wide early.

4bk otr,5bk 1000,wd trn,smart wd

TAKETHEPLUNGE - over-raced middle stages.

5bk otr,3wd,ld 900,fght,hdd 100

TAKETHEPLUNGE - over-raced middle stages. Shifted in marginally near the 100m.

4th,4bk inr,fading out from 500

SHOWCASE - weakened from the 500m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed a slow recovery.

Eased,wd cvr rear top,punishing wdr

Gate spd,ld,trld 1450,thru,sharpest

Prkd,cvr 1400,3-bk,never sparked up

SHOWCASE - weakened final bend.

4th,to 1x1 750,off,chased well

SHOWCASE - paced roughly near the 50m.

Cgt wd,parkd,folded up

SHOWCASE - raced wide until reaching the parked position passing the 1600m.

3-4pegs,off trn,angld,swept by wide

SHOWCASE - held up by a weakening runner rounding the final bend and was briefly placed in restricted room near the sulky of HAROLD HANOVER passing the 400m.

3pegs thrghout,nice wn out late

SHOWCASE - lay inwards final bend striking track markers. Held up final bend and in the run home only obtaining clear racing room passing the 100m. Driver B Barclay reported he did not activate the removable deafeners in consequence.

Followd 1x1,angld,ran on ok

KOWHAI STAR - over-raced middle stages.

6th,6-bk inr,off,wdst tn,strong bid

5th otr,3-bk,4w top,closed strongly

KOWHAI STAR - broke in the score up however was in position at the start.

3bk otr,3wd,3bk otr,off,dashd mid

KOWHAI STAR - over-raced middle stages.

8th inr,5-bk,impr inr,got split,ezy

Wd cvr,up prkd,ld 950,gathered in

KOWHAI STAR - raced wide early.

Trld,3bk inr 1100,held up 400,good

KOWHAI STAR - hampered by a weakening runner near the 400m.

3-4bk otr,wd rear tn,tried hard

3bk otr,3wd,1x1 550,off,swoopd 100